As can be seen in this photo of my desktop, I abhor paper.  I have been virtually paper-free for over 10 years keeping all documents on my computer and phone so that I have access to them wherever I am.

But…

You can also see a notebook on my desk.  I still have need of pen and paper for three reasons.

Quick Notetaking

Taking quick notes when on the phone or in a meeting is usually much easier than typing into the phone or a computer at the same time.  This is helped because the notes are often random and can be unrelated.  As such, it is hard to determine at the time where the notes should be stored. 

Meetings

Pen and a notebook are my companions to many meetings for three reasons. 

First, to take quick notes as discussed above. 

Second, to be seen paying attention and being engaged.  Taking notes on a computer or on our phones during a meeting is rarely seen as engaged.  Rather it is seen as doing other work or surfing on the phone.  By taking notes of what others are saying with pen and paper, we are showing that we are paying attention and that what the other person is saying matters to us. Notetaking gives proof of our attention.

Third, having pen and paper in a meeting rather than our computers or phones helps us to be more engaged in the meeting.  With pen and paper, it is not possible to look at E-Mails or texts or social media.  This minimizes the temptation (saving our willpower) and leads us to pay more attention in the meeting since there is less to distract us. 

Deeper Understanding

Pen and paper lead to a deeper thinking and deeper understanding.  When taking notes by hand, we cannot write as fast as others speak.  Thus, we need to process and summarize the information in real time while writing it down.  This leads to deeper understanding, higher retention, and improved memory retrieval of what is spoken.

Recent neuroscience research suggests that the act of writing by hand activates a larger range of brain circuitry than typing does and may cause people to process information more fully.  Nelson Repenning

Conclusion

Pen and paper still have a role in business – to allow quick and easy notetaking (that can be later summarized and stored on our computers or phones); to let us be seen to be actively engaged; to help us be actively engaged without distraction; and to more fully process what we write down.  And besides, pen and paper never have technical difficulties (so long as the ink does not run dry).